Punch for paper fasteners



ec. l8 1923.

H. A. LINDSTROM PUNCH FOR PAPER FASTENERS Filed Oct. 25. 1922 lnymj R. flawnhn A. Lmmnaon AT? ORNE/ Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

sierra TEs Hermann. munsrnoivrfor SEATTLE, wnsiinveron.

PUNCH FOR PAPER rAsrENEa-s.

Original application filed November 1, 1921, Serial No. 512,065.

Divided and this application filed October 23, 1922. Serial No. 596,259.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, HERMAN A. LIND- STROM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Punch for Paper F asteiiers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to improvements in machines adapted to perforate paper to receive paper fasteners of the twopronged variety; and its objects are, to provide a gage whereby a sheet of paper, or a plurality of them, can be so placed or aligned at one corner as to receive uniform perforations for the fastener; to provide a pair of thin, upstanding prongs, cooperating with a plunger, adapted to make a pair of 2 to provide spaced slits or kerfs in the paper, and in diagonal relation with the adjacent corner; simple mechanism to effect said result; and, to provide convenient, integral compartments to carry a special paper fastoner, and a sleeve therefor, which is the subject of my application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No. 512065, filed November 1, 1921, of which this is a divisional application, and for which this punch is especially adapted.

' I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a front elevation of the machine complete.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 denotes the base, and 2 a pair of thin, upstanding prongs located in diagonal relation with the base, adapted to make perforations for receiving the prongs of the fastener heretofore mentioned. 3 is a plate, comprising the lower portion of the plunger, provided with a pair of openings 4 for receiving the thrust of the prongs. 5 denotes a gage, consisting of a right angular corner in which to position the adjacent corners of papers to be perforated, or a single sheet as needed. 6 and 7 designate integral coinp-artments to carry a supply of said paper fasteners and a separate sleeve provided therefor.

In utilizing the device, preferably the upper left hand corner of the paper to be punched is placed against the gage 5 and above the rongs 2, the right angular proportions of the gage providing a medium whereby a single sheet, or a plurality of superimposed sheets, can be adjusted or aligned therein so that each will receive uniform perforations. Obviously, a downward thrust of the plunger to the limit permitted by the thickness of the paper will complete the operation. The prongs of the punch, as shown, are sharp pointed, thin, and their body portions of a uniform width, designed to make openings in the paper complementary to said body portions. The paper is then to be removed from the prongs and the fastener applied, the openings in the paper, conforming as they do to the body portions of the prongs of the fastener, hold the fastener securely in place and prevent any side play when the fastener is adjusted for use.

I am aware that a United States Patent, N 0. 83,640, for paper clip was issued to A. J. Kletzker, on November 3, 1868, where-in a pair of spaced barbed members were adapted to carry and insert in the paper a two-pronged paper fastener simultaneously with the thrust of the plunger and the perforation of the paper. Said device is de signed to utilize fasteners having prongs of different lengths, but under the construction shown said barbed members are enlarged at their bases and would provide open ings in the paper considerably wider than the prongs of the fastener to be used, thus having a tendency to afford lateral displacement of the fastener in the paper.

I am not aware, however, that any one has heretofore produced a punch for paper fasteners especially adapted for making openings in adjacent corner portions of sheets to be fastened, thereby making one two-pronged fastener practically perform the work of two fasteners as ordinarily placed; one which makes spaced slits in the paper which conform in size to the body portions of the prongs of the fastener, and thus prevent lateral play of the fastener when engaging the paper; or, such a punch having a, gage by which to position the paper and make uniform corner openings for the paper as heretofore described. In a filing system, where sheets will be added from time to time, said uniform openings as made by this punch will insure that the respective sheets will be placed and maintained in per feet alignment. The mechanism of the present machine is exceedingly simple, and the results sought to be obtained are eflected by the use of a minimum number of parts.

I claim: a

A punch for paper fasteners, comprising a base, a pair of thin smooth-edged upstanding prongs, s acedapart and in diagonal relation with t e base, a plunger operatively connected with the base, having at its lower terminal a member provided with a pair of lo openings adapted to receive the thrust of the prongs, and a gage having a right angular recess in which to position and align sheets of paper for receiving pairs of corner perforations in uniform and diagonal rela- 15 tion with adjacent corner portions of said paper.

HERMAN A. LINDSTROM. 

